What age did your children enjoy Christmas?

[FilthyforFirth]

So I'm having a bit of a rubbish time, so as usual I'm thinking about Christmas to try and cheer myself up! I have a nearly 9 month old, so he was just 5.5 months last Christmas and clearly had no idea what was going on.

I am wondering if at nearly 18 months this year, whether he will 'get' it a bit more. I would love to hear your stories of when your children started to enjoy it and what you did with them

Yeah I know what you mean Heart. I had all these plans when I was pregnant but the reality was that at 5.5 months there wasn't a whole lot go do. Plus he was ill in the run up and on antibiotics.

Christmas starts early in my house and he will be going to nursery this year so hoping over the next few Christmasses he starts to 'get' it!

At the least he should be walking and saying a few words this year so I am already looking forward to this one even though he'll only be 17 months!

4 and 5 and 6 and 7 \8 magical and amazing!

My DS was also 18 months for his second Christmas and he really enjoyed it, we took him to see Father Christmas at Paulton’s Park in Southampton, don’t know if that’s anywhere near you OP but highly recommended! He also loved driving around the area to look at all the lights and even enjoyed trying to help me wrap presents and decorate the house 😊 I would say it’s got even better every year though in terms of his interest and excitement. We go to Paulton’s Park every year and Christmas just gone he went out nearly every evening with his dad to look at lights. I was pregnant with DD who was due on Christmas Eve so I didn’t get to go out and do things with them as much as I would have liked but we made Christmas chocolate cornflake cakes and DD was considerate enough to come 12 days early so me and my boyfriend made it to Winter Wonderland in London with a 3.5 year old and a 1 week old 😂 DS was SO excited to be there and I got to enjoy some cool rides with him as I didn’t have the massive bump anymore 😁
Sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough time OP but honestly you will love this Christmas with your LO 😘 xx

Hi Millie, thanks for your message and you are VERY brave going to winter wonderland with a 1 week old!!

Funnily enough I am moving soon to not too far from Southampton so thanks for the tip. Good to hear your DS enjoyed it a bit from 18 months, something to hope for myself this year!

I am feeling a bit more cheered from my last post as I got a job this week . Off to bed now to fall asleep to the Nightmare Before Christmas!

@FilthyforFirth that’s brilliant news! 🎉Congratulations on the job, I hope it goes well!
In hindsight I’m not sure what we were thinking re Winter Wonderland, I think we were just over excited for Christmas and our first outing as a family of 4 😂
Only 8 months till Christmas, enjoy!

Thanks @MillyMoon94! I am really pleased, big weight off my shoulders. Just need to sell my house now!

You have my awe, I had a c section so wasn't even properly walking a week after birth . It will be nice for you this year as your DD will be 1 so mobile at the very least!

I have SO many Christmas books for my DS, a whole shelf to be precise, but he wasn't really interested last year. I am hoping he will want to sit and be read to this year!

@FilthyforFirth good luck with the house, we are looking at moving in the next few months too 😩

Aww thank you, I was very lucky to have a relatively quick and easy labour with her so I was up and about again very quickly. There’s no way I would even have attempted it if I’d had a c section! I am very excited for what I’m thinking of as her first Christmas this year, last year she slept most of the day, understandable at 2 weeks old I guess 😂

My DS loved being read to at 18 months so I’m sure you’re going to have hours of enjoyment with all your Christmas books! Have fun!

This Christmas mine had just turned 7, 5, 2 and they loved every minute. Though the two year old was feeding on the older one’s enthusiasm I think.

The first year my D.C. really got into Christmas was also the year they learned that Santa isn’t real.

They were 5yo.

Many MNers seem to have a terrible fear about their children discovering the big secret but my D.C. enjoy Christmas as much as they ever did.

We have all sorts of fairly simple family traditions around preparing the house and food, going to church for the Christingle service etc and they love it.

We don’t do chocolate advent calendars, we’ve never done a Santa’s Grotto visit, we don’t do footsteps on the floor, we certainly don’t do Elf in the Shelf.

We have a happy, relaxed family Christmas. No overexcited children or stressed out adults.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to make it “perfect” or “magical”, just make it happy and fun.

MN on Christmas morning is often terribly upsetting. People who have killed thenselves spending huge amounts of time and money to make Christmas perfect but whose vision of the day is spoiled by ungrateful families, grumpy spouses and tantruming children.

Simple, happy, stress free is the way to go IMO.

Or, whatever makes you happy, including chocolate advent calendars, grotto visits etc, if that's what you want to do.

I think the not being a martyr message is important, but each to their own, and whatever traditions you want your family to have.

Yes I agree Fluffy. I found out, by accident, that he wasn't real at a young age, so I am looking forward to keeping the magic alive for as long as possible for DS!

I am very traditional so will definitely be doing grotto visits, I did one last year!, advent etc. I appreciate this isn't for everyone though!

Some people are very intolerant of others doing things differently to them. Or simply lacking understanding that what works for them isn't for everyone. It's baffling how many MN threads have so many people totally not getting how other people can possibly do things a different way to how they do!

I've started DS stocking today! My Smiths were having a clearance sale so I got a few little books for 10p and 50p including a Mr Men Christmas one!

I am looking forward to making him an advent calendar this year, just need some inspiration on what an 18 month old would like in one!

@FilthyforFirth I know this thread is a few years old but I found it while googling when children enjoy Christmas as my son is nearly 10 months old, also a July baby and I'm lying here dreaming of going home for Christmas this year when DS will be 17 months old. (I've not been home to the UK in nearly two years due to pregnancy and covid so I'm feeling very homesick and just adore Christmas).

Op, now it's been a few years, can you share when your son started enjoying Christmas ? 😃

HahaI have just been enjoying re-reading this thread (the Christmas board is mn at its best!) So thanks for the resurrection @goblin74!

So, I would have to say, last Christmas at 3.5 was pretty awesome. We managed to visit a lovely santa and DS was so delighted. He was very excited to open his presents and see what santa had left in his stocking. He has a tiny new brother so was also excited to give him a gift and help unwrap his other pressies! Nursery were great with hyping the kids up but covid ruined a lot of their plans which is a shame as he's off to school in Sept. Covid also robbed him of a magical Christmas with his similarly aged cousins which he would have loved.

Onto your question, you will be pleased to know I genuinely think he enjoyed it at 18 months!! He was a bit more scared of the santa we met but he loved all the lights, he enjoyed a roast dinner and pulling his little baby crackers, he loved opening his presents . I actually found it so magical. I didnt end up doing an advent, we had moved house and I was back at work full time, but I got him a toot toot one and he still plays with the train that came with it now!

I would say he was overwhelmed with the sheer number of gifts. We were still opening nearly a week later. It was a struggle to get him down for a nap as he didnt want to miss out. But beyond that, it has been my 2nd fave Christmas with him so far! (2.5 was at my in laws which I dont enjoy as much and being that bit older he refused to nap but still got overtired!).

All in all if you start to build it up I think you will have a magical time!

At 20 months, my dd loved the lights and musical decorations. She loved looking at the garden centre decorations! The Christmas tree was a big hit and she was asking for one for a couple of months after. She could say ‘sa says hohoho’ and would love Santa spotting! I think you’ll have a fab time!

Aw thanks for the update OP! Interesting to know what the little ones get excited about at that age! I can’t wait until mine can understand Father Christmas

How old are yours @prettypennies? DS1 will be 4 and DS2 will be 4 and 1 this Christmas, I am thinking the next few years are going to be magical for both!

Can't wait for this year, though I imagine my 1 year old will be causing havoc with the tree!

I think my DC were 4-5 years old when they fully got into the christmas spirit. I enjoyed christmas with them before those ages but I don't think they truly understood what was going on before those ages